One person has been rescued and five others confirmed dead following the collapse of a three Storey building at 85 Azikiwe road, Aba, Abia State.
The rescued victim is now receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital in the city.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the deceased persons and survivors of the collapsed building were homeless residents in the city who usually take refuge in open buildings.
Permanent Secretary, Abia State Ministry of Environment, Mr.Iheanyi Ubani, and the Executive Secretary of the Aba South Town planning Authority, visited the area to assess the situation.
They mobilized the excavator to clear the rubble rescue efforts. Before their arrival, sympathizers had managed to wade in through parts of the collapsed building to rescue the only survivor.
The situation led to some sympathizers leaving the scene as hoodlums attacked those taking pictures with their phones.
A shop owner in the area said the incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday following the torrential rains that hit the city.
According to him; “The building was still standing when I closed for business Tuesday evening. Construction work was ongoing, but when I came on Wednesday, the building had collapsed. Two persons have been confirmed dead, one rescued and taken to hospital while five persons are trapped in the building.”
It is believed that there could more persons trapped as many people usually steal into the building to pass the night.
However, most people attributed the cause of the collapse to the use of inferior materials by the contractor.
Meanwhile, the Abia State government has vowed to prosecute the owner of the collapsed building.
Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, stated that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu had directed Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) and the Aba South LGA Town Planning Authority to immediately ensure full and safe demolition of the partially collapsed 3-Storey building.
The Commissioner explained that security agents are on the trail of the building engineer and developer of the property.
He explained that most of the building was hurriedly put up during the COVID-19 lockdown period to evade the town planning authorities.
